The Nordic Heart and Lung Alliance urges on Smokefree Nordic area

The Nordic Heart and Lung Alliance (Nhl) is concerned about the increase in social inequality brought about by smoking. Despite significant measures to reduce smoking habits in the Nordic countries it is estimated that more than 5 million people is still smoking. Reducing and preventing smoking would improve health on an equal basis. NHL suggests that Nordic countries should take action and aim to become tobacco-free in the future.

Smoking is a significant cause of avoidable premature death and illness in Nordic countries; in the range of 10-20 percent of all deaths is attributed to smoking. Smoking is a major cause of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). It is estimated that up to 700 000 persons in Sweden and more than 400 000 in Denmark suffers from COPD. Close to 1500 persons dies from COPD in Norway each year and about 1000 persons in Finland. Even modest reductions in a disease burden of such large size would bring highly significant health gains.

Finland is the first country in the world, which has set the aim to end the use of tobacco products by 2040 and thus introduced the idea of tobacco-free Finland by law.

-The Nordic Heart and Lung Alliance challenge the other Nordic countries to affiliate to it. The Nordic Heart and Lung Alliance believes that the explicit aim sends young people a strong signal from the society, and encourages parents, schools, sport associations to support young people not to begin smoking, says the Alliance´s chairperson Karin Jeppsson.

The Nordic Heart and Lung Allicance which is comprised of five Nordic patient's organisations, strongly encourages the governments to take strong legislative and political steps to protect and support their citizens, especially the children, right to live in tobacco-free Nordic countries. The Alliance welcomes the idea that minors should not be allowed to possess, buy or use tobacco products.

The Alliance emphasizes the importance of social policy measures in promoting tobacco-free surroundings, so as to create the possibilities and circumstances that support health-promoting choices. Each person must have the possibility of having a tobacco-free environment in which to live, families should be supported in the upbringing of a tobacco-free generation and everyone needing should get help in quitting smoking that is close at hand and easily attainable.

In addition, the Alliance demands that each person should be made aware of the severe health hazards and addiction caused by using tobacco products.

Finally, the Alliance points out that the governments alone cannot achieve success without the involvement of civil society, the private sector, and other interest groups. With this initiation sent to the health ministers in the Nordic countires the alliance brings forward their strong interest to support the governments and a willingness to take a leading role among the health organisations in strenghtening Nordic cooperation in this sense.

Further information:

Karin Jeppsson, chairperson
+46734420080
www.nord-hl.com

Lars Edborg, Secretariat
+46855606201
lars.edborg@hjart-lung.se

The Nordic Heart and Lung Alliance
- Lungepatient.dk, Danmark
- SIBS, Samband íslenskra berkla- og brjóstholssjúklinga, Island
- Hengitysliitto/Andningsförbundet, Finland
- Landsforeningen for hjerte- og lungesyke LHL, Norge
- Hjärt- och Lungsjukas Riksförbund, Sverige